Cordoba as a day trip from Seville: Everything you need to know

Cordoba is a beautiful city in the Andalusia region of Southern Spain. Great sights and food make it a perfect day trip from nearby Seville. Here’s how to make the most of a visit to Cordoba as a day trip from Seville. 

Last updated: May 2025

Cordoba is lovely small city in Spain. Its compact size means that visiting Cordoba as a day trip from Seville is perfect. There’s plenty to do in Cordoba for a day. But it’s small enough that you’ll feel like you’ve seen most of the small city within a day. Visiting Cordoba as a day trip from Seville means you can get a taste of another great city while you’re staying in Seville, without needing to change hotels. And it’s really easy to visit Cordoba from Seville by train, so you won’t need to worry about having a car. So here’s everything you need to know to make the most of visiting Cordoba as a day trip from Seville.

How to get to Cordoba from Seville? 

The best way to get from Seville to Cordoba is by train. The fast train makes it easy to visit Cordoba as a day trip from Seville. You definitely don’t need a car to be able to visit Cordoba as a day trip from Seville. With limited parking in both Seville and Cordoba, it’s best not to have a car and instead use public transport to get between the cities.

The train from Seville to Cordoba takes about an hour. There are plenty of trains to choose from, with trains running between Seville and Cordoba regularly throughout the day. The fastest trains can take 45 minutes, and the slower trains can take about 1 hour 30 minutes. The cost varies depending on the type of train, from around 15-30 euros. Trains leave from Seville’s Santa Justa train station. Check out the train timetables and prices here. 

You can also get the bus from Seville to Cordoba. The bus from Seville to Cordoba can be a cheaper option than the train, costing less than 10 euros. However, the bus takes longer than the train. The bus from Seville to Cordoba can take around two hours. Check out the Alsa bus times and prices here. 

I took the train to Cordoba from Seville. I thought it worked really well. The train was fast and comfortable, with lovely views out the window. The train stations in both Seville and Cordoba were easy to get to. So I recommend taking the train when you’re visiting Cordoba as a day trip from Seville.

What are the top things to do in one day in Cordoba? 

There’s plenty of things to do to fill one day in Cordoba. With one day in Cordoba, you can see Cordoba’s highlights before getting the train back to Seville.

Cordoba used to be one of the most important cities in Europe. It was an important Roman settlement, and later a key city in the time when the Moors occupied Andalusia from the 8th century. This fascinating history means there’s plenty of things to do in Cordoba as a day trip from Seville. So here are the top things to do in one day in Cordoba.

The Mezquita 

My favourite thing to do in Cordoba is to visit the famous Mezquita. Visiting this mosque is like stepping back in time into Moorish Andalusia. You can really imagine that you’re in North Africa. It doesn’t feel like you’re still in Spain, or even Europe. The Mezquita is impressive from the outside, but it’s even more impressive inside.

The Mezquita in Cordoba is huge inside. It’s a vast space, with so much detail and decoration. A lot of the interior is covered with orange stripes, right up to the high and ornate ceilings. There are also more decorative parts of the Mezquita as well. You can spend ages here just walking around and taking in the beauty of this building.

Make sure you also take some time to appreciate the Mezquita from the outside as well, especially from the square just outside. The Mezquita in Cordoba really is one of the

Cobbled streets of Cordoba 

Another joy of Cordoba is exploring the cobbled streets. The streets all around the Mezquita mosque are full of character, and again take you back in time to the Moorish times. I really enjoyed just wandering around the streets and getting lost. There are cute little shops and small houses, as well as bars and cafes.

Alcazar of Cordoba 

Not to be mistaken for the Alcazar in Seville, the Alcazar in Cordoba is completely different. It’s definitely well worth visiting in your day in Cordoba. The Alcazar in Cordoba is called the Alcazar Dr Los Reyes Christianos. It’s a medieval palace and was a royal residence. It was one of the primary residences of Spanish royals. Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. It’s another fascinating place to visit in Cordoba that will help you understand some more of the important role that the city of Cordoba had historically.

Roman bridge 

For a great end to your day in Cordoba as a day trip from Seville, admire the view from the Roman bridge. This view from the bridge is one of the best viewpoints in Cordoba. From the bridge, you can get a great view back towards the Mezquita and the town, cross over the Roman bridge over the river. The river itself is beautiful as well, and if you’re visiting on a hot day the breeze here can be a welcome relief. 

Enjoy your day in Cordoba as a day trip from Seville! Make sure to check out my guide on the top things to do in Seville. If you’re got a bit more time in Andalusia, why not explore the white villages, or spend a day in Granada. Or travel further in Spain and visit Barcelona in 3 days and the nearby Montserrat monastery in the mountains. Or you can visit the capital city of Spain, Madrid. Check out my guide to spending 3 days in Madrid, and also taking a day trip from Madrid to Segovia and a day trip from Madrid to Toledo.